Water filter device and refrigerator having the same

ABSTRACT

A water filter device including a filter unit to receive water from an external water supply source and to purify the received water, a storage tank unit to store the water purified through the filter unit, and a case to receive the filter unit and the storage tank unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 12/654,627 filed Dec. 28, 2009, which in turnclaims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 2009-1238 and2009-72280, filed on Jan. 7, 2009 and Aug. 6, 2009 respectively in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a water filter device forpurifying water supplied from an external water supply source, and arefrigerator including a storage tank unit to store water purified bythe water filter device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently-developed refrigerators have a tendency to accomplish desiredpurposes of appliances equipped therein by filtering tap water (rawwater) using a water filter device, and thus obtaining clear water(purified water).

Such a refrigerator includes a water filter device provided with a waterfilter to purify water supplied from an external water supply source,and a storage tank to store the water purified by the water filterdevice.

Even in a state in which a door of the refrigerator is not opened, thewater filter device may supply the purified water to a dispenser and anice maker, in order to dispense water and ice desired by the user.

However, conventional refrigerators having the above-mentionedconfiguration have a difficulty in assembly operation because the waterfilter device and storage tank are separate from each other. For thisreason, there is an increase in material costs and labor costs in theconventional refrigerators.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide arefrigerator including a water filter device and a storage tank, whichare integrated into a single assembly.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the invention.

In accordance with one aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet definedtherein with a storage chamber, and a water filter device installed inthe storage chamber, to purify water supplied from an external watersupply source, wherein the water filter device includes a filter unit topurify the water supplied from the water supply source, a storage tankunit to store the water purified through the filter unit, and a case toreceive the filter unit and the storage tank unit.

The filter unit may include a water filter assembly, and a filter headassembly separably coupled to the water filter assembly.

The filter head assembly may include an inlet to allow the wafer fromthe water supply source to be introduced into the water filter assembly,and an outlet to allow the water purified through the water filterassembly to be discharged to the storage tank unit.

A supply tube connected to the water supply source may be connected tothe inlet. A connecting tube connected to the storage tank unit may beconnected to the outlet.

The refrigerator may further include an ice maker installed in thestorage chamber, to make ice, and a dispenser to supply the waterpurified through the water filter device to an outside of therefrigerator.

A discharge tube may be connected to the storage tank unit, to dischargethe water from the storage tank unit to the ice maker and the dispenser.

The case may be formed with a through hole to guide the supply tube andthe discharge tube.

In accordance with another aspect, a water filter device includes afilter unit to receive water from an external water supply source and topurify the received water, a storage tank unit to store the waterpurified through the filter unit, and a case to receive the filter unitand the storage tank unit.

The filter unit may include a water filter assembly, and a filter headassembly separably coupled to the water filter assembly.

A connecting tube may be connected between the filter head assembly andthe storage tank unit, to introduce the water purified through the waterfilter unit to the storage tank unit.

The filter head assembly may include a first inlet and a first inletpassage, to guide the wafer from the water supply source to beintroduced into the water filter assembly, and a first outlet and afirst outlet passage, to guide the water purified through the waterfilter assembly to be discharged to the storage tank unit.

A supply tube connected to the water supply source may be connected tothe first inlet. A second inlet passage formed at the storage tank unitmay be connected to the first outlet.

The storage tank unit may include a storage tank, and an inlet pipeinserted into the storage tank, to guide the water purified through thefilter unit to be stored in the storage tank.

The storage tank unit may include a storage tank, and an inlet pipeinserted into the storage tank, to guide the water purified through thefilter unit to be stored in the storage tank.

The storage tank may include a second inlet passage connected to thefirst outlet of the filter head assembly and the inlet pipe at oppositeends of the second inlet passage, respectively, and a second outlet todischarge the water stored in the storage tank.

The refrigerator may further include an ice maker installed in thestorage chamber, to make ice, and a dispenser to supply the waterpurified through the water filter device to an outside of the waterfilter device. A discharge tube may be connected to the second outlet ofthe storage tank, to discharge the water from the storage tank to theice maker and the dispenser.

The storage tank may be divided into an insertion space, into which theinlet pipe is inserted, and a storage space, in which water introducedthrough the inlet pipe is stored. The storage space may communicate withthe insertion space at a side opposite to the second outlet.

The storage tank has an inner surface rounded at one side thereof todisperse a pressure of the water introduced into the storage spacethrough the inlet pipe.

The filter assembly may include a first body, and a second body receivedin the first body such that the second body is movable within the firstbody by a pressure of water introduced through the inlet passage or whenthe water filter assembly is coupled or separated. An elastic member maybe arranged between the first body and the second body, to move thesecond body within the first body when the pressure of the waterintroduced through the inlet passage is low.

In accordance with another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinetdefined therein with a storage chamber, and a water filter deviceinstalled in the storage chamber, to purify water supplied from anexternal water supply source, wherein the water filter device includes afilter unit to purify the water supplied from the water supply source, astorage tank unit to store the water purified through the filter unit,and a case to receive the filter unit and the storage tank unit, whereinthe storage tank unit includes a storage tank, and an inlet pipeinserted into the storage tank, to guide the water purified through thefilter unit to be stored in the storage tank.

In accordance with another aspect, a water filter device includes afilter unit to receive water from an external water supply source and topurify the received water, a storage tank unit to store the waterpurified through the filter unit, and a case to receive the filter unitand the storage tank unit, wherein the storage tank unit includes astorage tank, and an inlet pipe inserted into the storage tank, to guidethe water purified through the filter unit to be stored in the storagetank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a water filter deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the water filter device shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a water filter deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the water filter device shown inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the water filterdevice of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a filter head assemblyincluded in the water filter device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the water filterdevice of FIG. 5 in a 90°-rotated state; and

FIGS. 9 to 11 are sectional views to explain flows of water in the waterfilter devices respectively shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views illustrating a water filter devicein a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a water filter device in arefrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an extended state of a waterbasin shown in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Theembodiments are described below to explain the present invention byreferring to the figures.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator includes a cabinet 1 to define anouter appearance of the refrigerator. A storage chamber (not shown), inwhich food may be stored, is defined in the interior of the cabinet 1.The storage chamber is partitioned into a refrigerating compartment anda freezing compartment by a barrier wall (not shown).

Respective heat exchangers (not shown) and respective blowing fans (notshown) are installed at the rear of the refrigerating and freezingcompartments, to independently generate cold air and to independentlysupply the cold air to the refrigerating and freezing compartments. Amachinery chamber (not shown) is defined at a rear and lower portion ofthe cabinet 1, to install a compressor (not shown) and a condenser (notshown) therein. Using the compressor and condenser, a refrigerant iscompressed and then condensed. The condensed refrigerant is sent to theheat exchangers.

Doors 2 are installed at front sides of the compartments of the storagechamber, respectively, to selectively open or close the compartments. Adispenser 4 is provided at a selected one of the doors 2, for example,the door 2 of the freezing compartment, to provide water and ice desiredby the user even in a closed state of the door 2.

Also installed in the storage chamber are an ice maker 3 to receivewater and to make ice from the received water, and a water filter device10 to purify water, to store the purified water, and to supply thestored water to the dispenser 4 and ice maker 3. To this end, therefrigerator is also provided with a supply tube 6 to supply water froman external water supply source 5 to the water filter device 10, and adischarge tube 7 to supply water purified by the water filter device 10to the ice maker 3 and dispenser 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the water filter device 10 includes a case 20installed in the storage chamber. The case 20 is defined with a space toreceive a filter unit 30 to purify water supplied from the externalwater supply source 5 via the supply tube 6, and a water storage tankunit 60 to store the water purified by the filter unit 30.

The case 20 is formed with a through hole 21 to guide the supply tube 6and discharge tube 7 to an inlet 52 of a filter head assembly 50, whichwill be described later, and an outlet 62 of the storage tank unit 60,respectively.

The filter unit 30 includes a water filter assembly 40 separablyreceived in the case 20. The filter head assembly 50 is also included inthe filter unit 30. The filter head assembly 50 is separably coupled tothe water filter assembly 40.

The water filter assembly 40 includes a filter case 41 to receive afilter (not shown), and a coupler 42 provided at one side of the filtercase 41. The filter head assembly 50 is coupled to the coupler 42.

A filter inlet 43 is formed through the coupler 42, to allow the filterhead assembly 50 to receive external water therethrough. A filter outlet44 is also formed through the coupler 42, to allow the filter headassembly 50 to discharge water purified after being introduced into thewater filter assembly 40 through the filter inlet 43.

A sealing member 45 may be fitted around an outer peripheral surface ofthe coupler 42, to prevent water discharged through the filter outlet 44from leaking to the outside.

The filter head assembly 50 includes a body 51 having an inlet 52,through which water from the external water supply source 5 isintroduced, and an outlet 53, through which the water introduced throughthe inlet 52 is discharged in a purified state. Although not shown, thebody 51 may be provided with a core (not shown) installed in the body 51such that the core is extendable or retractable, and an elastic member(not shown) to elastically support the core.

The inlet 52 is connected with the supply tube 6, to receive water fromthe water supply source 5. A connecting tube 70 is also connectedbetween the filter head assembly 50 and the storage tank unit 60, todischarge water purified by the water filter assembly 40 to the storagetank unit 60. The outlet 53 of the filter head assembly 50 is connectedto the connecting tube 70.

As described above, the storage tank unit 60 is received in the case 20.The storage tank unit 60 includes a storage tank inlet 61 connected tothe connecting tube 70, and a storage tank outlet 62 connected to thedischarge tube 7, which supplies water introduced through the storagetank inlet 61 to the ice maker 3 and dispenser 4.

Meanwhile, FIGS. 4 to 8 are views illustrating a water filter deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,the water filter device 10 includes a case 120 installed in the storagechamber, as in the previous embodiment. Although not shown, the waterfilter device 10 may be received in a recess formed at one side surfaceof a storage container 19 arranged adjacent to one side wall of therefrigerating compartment.

That is, the water filter device 10 may be arranged at a positionadjacent to the storage container 19 arranged at a lower portion of therefrigerating compartment 11, in order to efficiently use the internalspace of the refrigerating compartment 11.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an embodiment in which the water filterdevice is arranged at a position adjacent to the storage container.

Referring to FIG. 12, the water filter device 10 according to thisembodiment may be arranged between the storage container 10 arranged ata lower portion of the refrigerating compartment 11 and one inner sidewall 16 of the refrigerating compartment 11.

The storage container 19 is arranged beneath a storage container cover12 arranged at the lower portion of the refrigerating compartment 11.The storage container cover 12 partitions the internal space of therefrigerating compartment 11, to define an upper space to store food anda lower space to receive the storage container 19. The storage containercover 12 is supported by the opposite inner side walls 16 of therefrigerating compartment 11, and covers the upper surface of thestorage container 19.

At least a portion of the storage container cover 12 may be made of atransparent material, in order to allow the user to identify foodcontained in the storage container 19.

A recess 19 a may be formed at one side surface of the storage container19 arranged adjacent to one side wall 16 of the refrigeratingcompartment 11, to receive the water filter device 10.

The recess 19 a has a shape corresponding to an outer appearance of thewater filter device 10. Accordingly, where the water filter device 10 isarranged between the storage container 19 and one side wall 16 of therefrigerating compartment 11, the water filter device 10 is tightlyfitted in the recess 10 a.

In accordance with the above-described configuration, there is noreduction in the storage space of the refrigerating compartment 11,which may be caused by separate installation of the filter unit 20 andstorage tank unit 80 in conventional cases. That is, the water filterdevice 10 is arranged in a useless space, which may be formed betweenthe storage container 19 and one side wall 16 of the refrigeratingcompartment 11 in conventional cases. The case 20 of the water filterdevice 10 is also surrounded by the storage container 10. Accordingly,the space utility of the refrigerating compartment 11 is enhanced. Also,the appearance becomes more beautiful.

Although the recess 19 a to receive the water filter device 10 isprovided at the storage container 19 in this embodiment, it may beformed at one side wall 16 of the refrigerating compartment 11 or may beformed at both one side wall 16 of the refrigerating compartment 11 andthe storage container 19.

Where the water filter device 10, which includes the storage tank unit80, is arranged between the storage container 10 and one side wall 16 ofthe refrigerating compartment 11, it is unnecessary to use a separateheater to prevent water stored in a water tank from being frozen. Thisis because the phenomenon, in which water stored in the water tank isfrozen by cold air, is reduced in this case, as compared to the case inwhich the water tank is arranged at a rear wall of the refrigeratingcompartment 11.

Although the water filter device 10 of the refrigerator according tothis embodiment is arranged between the storage container 19 and oneside wall 16 of the refrigerating compartment 11, the present generalinventive concept is not limited thereto. Where storage containers 19are arranged in parallel at left and light sides, respectively, as shownin FIG. 13, the water filter device 10 may function as a partition wall.

That is, the water filter device 10 is arranged at a central portion ofthe receiving space defined beneath the storage container cover 12 toreceive the storage container 19. In this case, the water filter device10 laterally divides the receiving space into space portions, to allowthe storage containers 19 to be separably received in respective spaceportions.

In this case, the space utility is further enhanced because the uselessspace of a partition wall to partition the storage containers 19 isoccupied by the water filter device 10.

In this case, guide rail 14 may be provided at opposite side surfaces ofthe water filter device 10 arranged between the storage containers 19,to guide movements of the storage containers 19.

The case 120 is defined with a space to receive a filter unit 130 topurify water supplied from the external water supply source 5 via thesupply tube 6, and a water storage tank unit 180 to store the waterpurified by the filter unit 130.

The case 120 is formed with through holes 121 to guide the supply tube 6and discharge tube 7 to a first inlet 152 of a filter head assembly 150,which will be described later, and a second outlet 185 of the storagetank unit 180, respectively.

The filter unit 130 includes a water filter assembly 140 separablyreceived in the case 120. The filter head assembly 150 is also includedin the filter unit 130. The filter head assembly 150 is separablycoupled to the water filter assembly 140.

As in the previous embodiment, the water filter assembly 140 includes afilter case 141, and a filter 145 received in the filter case 141.

The filter case 141 has a cylindrical structure open at one end thereof.A handle 142 is coupled to one end of the filter case 141, namely, theopen end, such that the handle 142 closes the open end of the filtercase 141.

A coupler 143 is provided at the other end of the filter case 141. Thecoupler 143 is fitted in the filter head assembly 150. At an outerperipheral surface of the coupler 143, coupling protrusions 144 areprovided to couple the coupler 143 with the filter head assembly 150. Afirst sealing member 146 is also provided at the outer peripheralsurface of the coupler 143, to prevent water introduced into ordischarged from the filter case 141 from leaking to the outside.

The filter 145 is received in the filter case 141 through the open endof the filter case 141 in a state in which opposite ends of the filter145 are supported by caps 147, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the filter head assembly 150 includes a firstbody 151, a second body 161 received in the first body 151 such that thesecond body 161 is extendable or retractable within the first body 151,and a bracket 171 to support one-side ends of the first and secondbodies 151 and 161.

The first body 151 is provided with a first inlet 152 and a first inletpassage 153, through which water from the water supply source 5 isintroduced. The first body 151 is also provided with a first outlet 156and a first outlet passage 157, through which water purified by thewater filter assembly 140 is discharged to the storage tank unit 180. Abypass passage 155, which communicates the first inlet passage 153 andfirst outlet passage 157, is also provided at the first body 151.

As described above, the second body 161 is received in the first body151 such that the second body 161 is extendable or retractable withinthe first body 151. The second body 161 is formed with a firstcommunicating passage 162 to communicate the first inlet passage 153 andwater filter assembly 140, and a second communicating passage 163 tocommunicate the first outlet passage 157 and water filter assembly 140.

Valve units 165 are provided at each of the communicating passages 162and 163. The valve units 165 function to open or close the first inletpassage 153 and first communicating passage 162, and the first outletpassage 157 and second communicating passage 163, respectively.

Each valve unit 165 includes a valve stem 166, a support member 167 tosupport the valve stem 166, a first elastic member 168 to elasticallysupport the valve stem 166 between the valve stem 166 and the supportmember 167, and a second sealing member 169 arranged around an outerperipheral surface of the valve stem 166. The first elastic member 168elastically supports the valve stem 166 when the water filter assembly140 is mounted to or separated from the filter head assembly 150.

As described above, the bracket 171 supports one-side ends of the firstand second bodies 151 and 161. A socket portion 172 is provided at eachof the bracket 171 and second body 161. The coupler 143 of the waterfilter assembly 140 is fitted in the socket portion 172. Engagementprotrusions 173 are provided at an inner peripheral surface of thesocket portion 172. When the coupler 143 is rotated 90° after beingfitted into the socket portion 172, the coupling protrusions 144 of thecoupler 143 are engaged with the engagement protrusions 173, so that thecoupler 143 is coupled to the socket portion 172.

In accordance with the above-described configuration, the water filterassembly 140 is mounted to the filter head assembly 150 when the handle142 is rotated 90° under the condition in which the water filterassembly 140 is fitted in a filter receiving portion 122 of the case120, such that the coupling protrusions 144 of the water filter assembly140 are engaged with the engagement protrusions 173 of the filter headassembly 150. When it is desired to replace the water filter assembly140 with a new one, the water filter assembly 140 may be separated fromthe case 120 as the handle 142 is rotated in an opposite direction, andthen pulled.

Although the water filter assembly 140 is separably coupled to thefilter head assembly 150, and the coupling is achieved by the couplingprotrusions 144 and engagement protrusions 173 in this embodiment, thisconfiguration is only an illustrative example. The coupling may beachieved using other known configurations such as a thread couplingstructure, a latch structure, or a hook structure.

In accordance with this embodiment, a second elastic member 175 isarranged between the first body 151 and the second body 161, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 8. When the pressure of water supplied to the water filterdevice 10 is low, the valve unit 165 may not operate due to the lowwater pressure. In this case, the second elastic member 175 functions toprevent such non-operation of the valve unit 165 caused by the low waterpressure.

Again referring to FIG. 5, the storage tank unit 180 includes a storagetank 181 to store water purified by the filter unit 130, and an inletpipe 186 inserted into the storage tank 181.

The storage tank 181 includes a second inlet passage 184 connected tothe first outlet 156 formed at the first body 151 of the filter headassembly 150, and a second outlet 185, to which the discharge tube 7 tosupply purified water to the ice maker 3 and dispenser 4 is connected.The second inlet passage 184 is provided in the form of a pipe at abottom side of the storage tank 181 in the rear of the storage tank 181.Accordingly, the second inlet passage 184 is connected to the firstoutlet 156 in a fitting manner. The second outlet 185 is provided at therear side of the storage tank 181.

The first outlet 156 of the filter head assembly 150 is arranged suchthat it is directly connected to the second inlet passage 184 of thestorage tank unit 180, in order to reduce the length of the water supplyline in this embodiment of the invention. Of course, the first outlet156 may be indirectly connected to the second inlet passage 184 via awater supply valve. In this case, purified water discharged from thefirst outlet 156 of the filter head assembly 150 is introduced into thewater supply valve, and then supplied to the storage tank unit 180 afterthe water supply valve controls supply amount thereof.

The storage tank 181 is divided into a storage space 182, in which waterpurified by the filter unit 130 is stored, and an insertion space 183,into which the inlet pipe 186 is inserted. The insertion space 183communicates, at one end thereof, with the inlet passage 184, whilecommunicating, at the other end thereof, with the storage space 182.That is, water discharged from the filter unit 130 is introduced intothe second inlet passage 184, and is then directed to a front portion ofthe storage space 182 opposite to the second outlet 185 via the inletpipe 186.

In this embodiment, accordingly, water supplied to the storage tank 181via the inlet pipe 186 is stored in the storage tank 181, starting froma front side 182 a of the storage space 182. As a result, through theoutlet 85 opposite to the front side 182 a of the storage space 182,water already stored in the storage tank 181 in the vicinity of theoutlet 85 and cooled by cold air supplied to the storage chamber isdischarged such that it is supplied to the ice maker 3 and dispenser 4.

The front side 182 a of the storage space 182 has a round shape in orderto disperse the pressure of water introduced into the storage space 182via the inlet pipe 186, and thus to prevent the storage tank 181 frombeing damaged due to the water pressure.

Hereinafter, a procedure of supplying water from the external watersupply source to the ice maker and dispenser in accordance with theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 will be described, with reference toFIG. 9.

Water supplied from the external water supply source 5 is firstintroduced into the filter unit 30 via the supply tube 6. In this case,the water supplied from the external water supply source 5 may beintroduced into the water filter assembly 40 because the water supplytube 6 is in a state of being connected to the inlet 52 of the filterhead assembly 50.

The water introduced into the water filter assembly 40 is purified bythe water filter assembly 40 and then discharged through the outlet 53of the filter head assembly 50. The water discharged through the outlet53 is introduced into the storage tank unit 60 via the connecting tube70.

The water introduced into the storage tank unit 60 is stored in thestorage tank unit 60, and then flows through the discharge tube 7. Thewater flowing through the discharge tube 7 is fed to the ice maker 3 anddispenser 4.

Now, a procedure of supplying water from the external water supplysource to the ice maker and dispenser in a state in which the waterfilter assembly is separated from the filter head assembly, inaccordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, will be described,with reference to FIG. 10.

Water supplied from the external water supply source 5 is firstintroduced into the first inlet passage 153 of the filter head assemblyvia the supply tube 6, and then discharged through the first outletpassage 157 after passing through the bypass passage 155.

In this case, as the water from the external water supply source 5 isintroduced into the first inlet passage 153, the second body 161 ismoved in a left direction due to the pressure of the introduced water.As a result, the bypass passage 155 is exposed or opened, therebycommunicating the first inlet passage 153 and first outlet passage 157.Accordingly, the water flows from the first inlet passage 153 to thefirst outlet passage 157. During this procedure, the valve stem 166 ofthe valve unit 165 is always urged toward the water filter assembly 140,thereby closing the first and second communicating passages 162 and 163.

The water discharged from the outlet passage 157 of the filter headassembly 150 is introduced into the storage tank 181. The waterintroduced into the storage tank unit 181 is stored in the storage tankunit 181, and then flows through the discharge tube 7. The water flowingthrough the discharge tube 7 is fed to the ice maker 3 and dispenser 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, a procedure of supplying waterfrom the external water supply source to the ice maker and dispenserwill also be described, with reference to FIG. 11.

Water supplied from the external water supply source 5 is firstintroduced into the filter unit 130 via the supply tube 6. In this case,the water supplied from the external water supply source 5 may beintroduced into the water filter assembly 140 via the first inletpassage 153 and first communicating passage 162 because the water supplytube 6 is in a state of being connected to the first inlet 152 of thefilter head assembly 150.

The water introduced into the water filter assembly 140 is purified bythe water filter assembly 140, and then discharged through the firstoutlet 156 of the filter head assembly 150 after passing through thesecond communicating passage 163 and first outlet passage 157.

The water discharged through the first outlet 156 of the filter headassembly 150 is introduced into the storage space 182 of the storagetank 181 via the second inlet passage 184 and inlet pipe 186 of thestorage tank unit 180. In this case, the water introduced into thestorage space 182 via the inlet pipe 186 is directed to the round frontside of the storage space 182. Accordingly, it may be possible toprevent the storage tank 181 from being damaged due to the pressure ofthe supplied water.

The water introduced into the storage tank 181 is stored in the storagetank 181, and then flows through the discharge tube 7. The water flowingthrough the discharge tube 7 is fed to the ice maker 3 and dispenser 4.

In this case, water supplied to the storage tank 181 is stored in thestorage tank 181, starting from a front side 182 a of the storage space182, by virtue of the inlet pipe 186. As a result, through the outlet 85opposite to the front side 182 a of the storage space 182, water alreadystored in the storage tank 181 in the vicinity of the outlet 85 andcooled by cold air supplied to the storage chamber is discharged.

In each of the refrigerators according to the above-describedembodiments, water supplied from the external water supply source 5 issupplied to the ice maker 3 and dispenser 4 after being purified by thewater filter device 10, which includes the filter unit 30 or 130 and thestorage tank unit 60 or 180 are held in an integrated state in the case20 or 120.

Accordingly, the water filter device 10 may achieve an improvement inassemblability and a reduction in material costs and labor costs in thatthe filter unit 30 or 130 and the storage tank unit 60 or 180 are heldin the case 20 or 120, as compared to the conventional case in which thestorage tank unit is separate from the filter unit.

In the refrigerator according to one of the above-described embodiments,it may be possible to supply a water portion, cooled by cold air, of thewater stored in the storage tank 181, earlier than the remaining waterportion, because water is supplied to the storage tank 181 through theinlet pipe 186.

In the refrigerator according to each of the above-describedembodiments, it may be possible to prevent the storage tank 181 frombeing damaged due to the pressure of water supplied to the storage tank181 through the inlet pipe 186, because the front side of the storagespace 182 has a round shape.

In the refrigerator according to one of the above-described embodiments,even when the pressure of water supplied to the water filter device islow, the second body 161 of the filter head assembly 150 may move withinthe first body 151 because the filter head assembly 150 includes thesecond elastic member 175.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a water filter device in arefrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an extended state of a waterbasin shown in FIG. 14. In the following description, the same referencenumeral is assigned to the same constituent elements as those of theprevious embodiments, and no detailed description will be given of thesame constituent elements.

Referring to FIG. 14, the water filter device 200 in the refrigeratoraccording to this embodiment includes a case 200 to define an outerappearance of the water filter device 200, a filter unit 220 to purifywater supplied from an external water supply source 5 to the waterfilter device 200, and a storage tank unit 230 to store water purifiedby the filter unit 220.

The filter unit 220 and storage tank unit 230 are received in the case210. The filter unit 220 and storage tank unit 230 are connected by aconnecting tube 240.

The filter unit 220 includes a water filter assembly 221 separablyreceived in the case 210, and a filter head assembly 223 separablycoupled to the water filter assembly 40.

The water filter device 200 may further include a water basin 250 toreceive water leaking from the filter head assembly 223 when the waterfilter assembly 221 is separated from the filter head assembly 223.

The water basin 250 is arranged beneath the filter unit 220 in a statein which the water basin 250 is received in the case 210. As shown inFIG. 15, the water basin 250 may be separable from the case 210.

In accordance with this configuration, it may be possible to prevent thewater filter device 220 from being contaminated by water collected intothe case 210 after leaking from the filter head assembly 223 when thewater filter assembly 221 is replaced by a new one.

As apparent from the above description, the refrigerator described aboveachieves an enhancement in assemblability and a reduction in labor costsand manufacturing costs as it includes a water filter device, in which afilter unit and a storage tank unit are received in a case.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would beappreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made inthese embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit ofthe invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and theirequivalents.

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet to define an outer appearance ofthe refrigerator and having a storage chamber therein; and a waterfilter device installed in the storage chamber, to purify water suppliedfrom an external water supply source, wherein the water filter devicecomprises a filter unit to purify the water supplied from the watersupply source, a storage tank unit to store the water purified throughthe filter unit, and a case to receive the filter unit and the storagetank unit.
 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the filterunit further comprises: a water filter assembly; and a filter headassembly separably coupled to the water filter assembly.
 3. Therefrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the filter head assemblycomprises: an inlet to allow the wafer from the water supply source tobe introduced into the water filter assembly; and an outlet to allow thewater purified through the water filter assembly to be discharged to thestorage tank unit.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein: asupply tube connected to the water supply source is connected to theinlet; and a connecting tube connected to the storage tank unit isconnected to the outlet.
 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4,further comprising: an ice maker to make ice installed in the storagechamber; and a dispenser to supply the water purified through the waterfilter device to an outside of the refrigerator.
 6. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 5, wherein a discharge tube is connected to thestorage tank unit, to discharge the water from the storage tank unit tothe ice maker and the dispenser.
 7. The refrigerator according to claim6, wherein the case is formed with a through hole to guide the supplytube and the discharge tube.
 8. The refrigerator according to claim 2,wherein the filter head assembly comprises a first inlet and a firstinlet passage, to guide the wafer from the water supply source to beintroduced into the water filter assembly, and a first outlet and afirst outlet passage, to guide the water purified through the waterfilter assembly to be discharged to the storage tank unit.
 9. Therefrigerator according to claim 8, wherein: a supply tube connected tothe water supply source is connected to the first inlet; and a secondinlet passage formed at the storage tank unit is connected to the firstoutlet.
 10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storagetank unit comprises a storage tank, and an inlet pipe inserted into thestorage tank, to guide the water purified through the filter unit to bestored in the storage tank.
 11. The refrigerator according to claim 9,wherein: the storage tank unit comprises a storage tank, and an inletpipe inserted into the storage tank, to guide the water purified throughthe filter unit to be stored in the storage tank; and the storage tankcomprises a second inlet passage connected to the first outlet of thefilter head assembly and the inlet pipe at opposite ends of the secondinlet passage, respectively, and a second outlet to discharge the waterstored in the storage tank.
 12. The refrigerator according to claim 11,further comprising: an ice maker to make ice installed in the storagechamber; and a dispenser to supply the water purified through the waterfilter device to an outside of the water filter device, wherein adischarge tube is connected to the second outlet of the storage tank, todischarge the water from the storage tank to the ice maker and thedispenser.
 13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein: thestorage tank is divided into an insertion space, into which the inletpipe is inserted, and a storage space, in which water introduced throughthe inlet pipe is stored; and the storage space communicates with theinsertion space at a side opposite to the second outlet.
 14. Therefrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the storage tank has aninner surface rounded at one side thereof to disperse a pressure of thewater introduced into the storage space through the inlet pipe.
 15. Therefrigerator according to claim 8, wherein: the filter assemblycomprises a first body, and a second body received in the first bodysuch that the second body is movable within the first body by a pressureof water introduced through the inlet passage or when the water filterassembly is coupled or separated; and an elastic member is arrangedbetween the first body and the second body, to move the second bodywithin the first body when the pressure of the water introduced throughthe inlet passage is low.
 16. A water filter device comprising: a filterunit to receive water from an external water supply source and to purifythe received water; a storage tank unit to store the water purifiedthrough the filter unit; and a case to receive the filter unit and thestorage tank unit.
 17. The water filter device according to claim 16,wherein the filter unit comprises: a water filter assembly; and a filterhead assembly separably coupled to the water filter assembly.
 18. Thewater filter device according to claim 17, wherein a connecting tube isconnected between the filter head assembly and the storage tank unit, tointroduce the water purified through the water filter unit to thestorage tank unit.
 19. The water filter device according to claim 16,wherein the storage tank unit comprises a storage tank, and an inletpipe inserted into the storage tank, to guide the water purified throughthe filter head assembly to be stored in the storage tank.
 20. The waterfilter device according to claim 19, wherein: the storage tank isdivided into an insertion space, into which the inlet pipe is inserted,and a storage space, in which water introduced through the inlet pipe isstored; and the storage space communicates with the insertion space at aside opposite to an outlet formed through the storage tank.
 21. Thewater filter device according to claim 20, wherein the storage tank hasan inner surface rounded at one side thereof to disperse a pressure ofthe water introduced into the storage space through the inlet pipe. 22.A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet to define an outer appearance ofthe refrigerator and having a storage chamber therein; and a waterfilter device installed in the storage chamber, to purify water suppliedfrom an external water supply source, wherein the water filter devicecomprises a filter unit to purify the water supplied from the watersupply source, a storage tank unit to store the water purified throughthe filter unit, and a case to receive the filter unit and the storagetank unit, and the storage tank unit comprises a storage tank, and aninlet pipe inserted into the storage tank, to guide the water purifiedthrough the filter unit to be stored in the storage tank.
 23. Therefrigerator according to claim 22, wherein: the filter unit comprises awater filter assembly, and a filter head assembly separably coupled tothe water filter assembly; and the inlet pipe of the storage tank isconnected with the filter head assembly.
 24. The refrigerator accordingto claim 23, wherein the storage tank comprises an inlet passageconnected at opposite ends thereof to the filter head assembly and theinlet pipe, respectively, and an outlet to allow the water stored in thestorage tank to be discharged.
 25. The refrigerator according to claim22, wherein the storage tank has an inner surface rounded at one sidethereof to disperse a pressure of the water introduced into the storagespace through the inlet pipe.
 26. A water filter device comprising: afilter unit to receive water from an external water supply source and topurify the received water; a storage tank unit to store the waterpurified through the filter unit; and a case to receive the filter unitand the storage tank unit, wherein the storage tank unit comprises astorage tank, and an inlet pipe inserted into the storage tank, to guidethe water purified through the filter unit to be stored in the storagetank.
 27. The water filter device according to claim 26, wherein: thestorage tank is divided into an insertion space, into which the inletpipe is inserted, and a storage space, in which water introduced throughthe inlet pipe is stored; and the storage space communicates with theinsertion space at a side opposite to an outlet formed through thestorage tank.
 28. The water filter device according to claim 26, whereinthe storage tank has an inner surface rounded at one side thereof todisperse a pressure of the water introduced into the storage spacethrough the inlet pipe.
 29. The refrigerator according to claim 1,further comprising: a water basin received in the case, to receive waterleaking from the filter unit.
 30. The refrigerator according to claim29, wherein the water basin is arranged to be extendable from orretractable into the case.
 31. The refrigerator according to claim 1,further comprising: a drawer type storage container arranged in thestorage chamber, to be extendable from or retractable into the storagechamber, wherein the water filter device is arranged adjacent to thedrawer type storage container.
 32. The refrigerator according to claim31, wherein the water filter device is arranged between the drawer typestorage container and one side wall of the storage chamber.
 33. Therefrigerator according to claim 31, wherein: the drawer type storagecontainer comprises first and second drawer type storage containersarranged in parallel; and the water filter device is arranged in a spacedefined between the first and second drawer type storage containers. 34.The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising: a water basinreceived in the case, to receive water leaking from the filter unit. 35.The refrigerator according to claim 34, wherein the water basin isarranged to be extendable from or retractable into the case.